“Dreamers” Rally in Topeka to Support Immigration Policy

Supporters of a policy that lets some undocumented immigrants stay in the U.S. rallied at the Kansas Statehouse Friday. They met as President Trump considers elimination of the program.

Fernanda Alonso-Hernandez is a college student and one of the so-called “dreamers” who were brought to the U.S. illegally as children. A program known as Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals now allows them to legally work and stay in the country. Alonso-Hernandez calls Wichita her home and said the federal program has allowed her to work and plan a career.

“I feel like all of us contribute something and I feel like if they took it away that contribution would just decrease and we would just be going backwards in what we fought for, in what dreamers have fought for,” she said.

Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt has signed a letter asking the federal government to rescind the program.

Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach, who has advised the president on immigration issues, told Fox News that DACA should be eliminated. He said that type of program should be created by Congress, not by an executive order.

“Only the legislative branch has that power. You cannot go around Congress as President Obama did and create an executive amnesty,” Kobach said.

President Trump has said he’ll make an announcement next week on the fate of DACA.

Description: After years of preparation and generous community support, our third floor core exhibit is nearly finished! Be among the first to experience breathtaking images and artifacts from Douglas County's past (along with tasty refreshments) at this free event. Submitted by: Will Hickox Watkins Museum of History